Stalking elk in Finland is to be made easier by giving hunting dogs mobile phones.

According to Reuters, the hunters will use the phones to call their dog and will be able to tell what sort of animal it has tracked by the dog's barking. The hunters will also be able to give orders over the phone.

The 'pawsets' are equipped with GSM and GPS technology and were developed by the Benefon mobile phone company and Pointer, a company that makes dog tracking devices.

The canine cell phones are expected to come into use in September when traditionally large groups of hunters set out after some 85,000 elk.